Parachute toy.



16.728,251. y Pfasrxgzntrn MAY 19, 1903.

vs. s. LAWRENCE.

PARACHUTE TOY.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 1, 1902.

No MODELl m; News evans co'. bnorqmncv. msumcmm'n, ev

UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PARACHUTE TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,251, dated May 19, 1903. Application iiled December 1, 1902. Serial No. 133 ,483. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHENS. LAWRENGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachute Toys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved aerial toy ofthe parachute type that will afford amusement, instruction, and bodily exercise for the young.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, showing an` embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a view of the toy as it appears ready to be thrown into the air. Fig. 2 illustrates the appearance of the toy descending in the air. Fig. 3 is a -central sectional view of the toy as it appears in Fig. 1.

In the several views, l designates the parachute, which will be made of paper, silk, or

` other fabric fiexible and light in weight.

2 and 2a designate hollow hemispheres, of wood, rubber, or other material,that are or can bemade of light weight. These hemispheres are separate pieces, but are connected solely bya short strip` of rubber 2b, riveted to the center of thel outer sides of the hemispheres. The strip 2b will be made lshort enough to necessitate a slight stretching thereof when the hemispheres are placed edge to edge to form a hollow sphere.

The parachute has a series of guys 1,con nected at 'regular intervals around its edge, that are focused and secured to the center of the inner side ofthe hemisphere 2. Attached to the outer side of the hemisphere 2 is a rather long elastic or rubber strip or` cord 3.

In practice the parachute is folded and placed within the hollow of the hemispheres, which are closed upon it. The strip 3 is then Wound around the sphere to hold the parts temporarily together while ascending in the air. By using an elastic strip 3 the tightness of thewinding can be varied, and the advantage in this is that the parachute may be released promptly or tardily, according to the height to which it is thrown. If the `toy is thrown 1o a comparatively great altitude, the strip should be wound under little tension to insure a slow unwinding of the strip, and, on the contrary, if the toy is thrown to a low altitude the winding should be tense to insure a quick unwindihg, because in either case the liberation of the parachute should be approximately contemporaneous with the beginning of the return of the ball toward the ground.

The visual eect of the toy is interesting in that it resembles the explosion of a bomb, and, moreover, nice skill and -judgment are acquired in timing the winding so as to bring about the explosion at the proper moment.

I am aware that a parachute has been proposed in which a receptacle for the parachute composed of two or more parts are hinged together and provided with an elastic cord uniting them, said cord tending to hold the parts open; but in my invention it will be noted that the parts are not hinged together, but are simply connected with an elastic strip, so as to be movable in any direction with respect to each other, and hence there is no liability of the.

parachute to be caught between the hinged parts. r

What I claim, and desire to secure by vLetters Patent, is-

1. Atoy consisting of a parachute combined with a hollow ball to contain the parachute composed of hollow hemispheres connected solely by a cord fastened at substantially the centers of the convex sides thereof so as to be separable from each other and movable in all directions with respect to each other and means for holding said parts temporarily closed upon the parachute. Y

2. A toy consisting of a parachute combined with a hollovir ball to contain the parachute composed of hollow hemispheres connected together solely by an elastic cord fastened at substantially the centers of the convex sides thereof so as to be separable from each other and movable in all directions with respect to each other and means for holding said parts temporarily closed upon theparachute.

3. Atoyconsistingofaparachutecombined said ball to hold the parts temporarily towiLh a hollow ball to contain the parachute gether. 10 composed of hollow hemispheres connected In testimony whereof I ax my signature solely by an elastic cord fastened at substanin presence of two witnesses.

: Lially the centers of the convex sides thereof STEPHEN S. LAWRENCE.

so as to be separable from each other and mov- Witnesses: able in all directions with respect to each other GEORG-E M. FINCKELf and an elastic strip or oord to Wind around E. E. CORWIN. o 

